Pipe wrench



G. GREEN.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATIO N FILED OCT. 6. 192l- Patented J My 25, 1922.

Tim]

PAUL G. GREEN, 0]? MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

PIPE WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1922.

Application filed October 6, 1921. Serial No. 505,846.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL G. Queen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain 23 new and useful Improvements in Pipe lVrenches, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

My invention relates to pipe wrenches, and one object of the invention is to prov de an implement of this class which is superior in gripping qualities to any existing tool made for this urpose.

This wrench is the result of extended experiments and tests and it possesses several 'Tadvantages su' 11 as case of manipulation and with the teeth 19 is paralle adjustment a' d automatic tightening of the gripping jaws around the pipe or bar which has to be turned by this tool.

In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and

Figure 1 shows a top plan View of the pipe wrench;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a similar elevatlon partly in section; and

Figure 4 is a cross section along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The main parts of the pipe wrench are a straight handle 10, a rigid jaw 11 and a transversely movable jaw 12. The rigid jaw 11 extends approximately in the longitudinal direction of the handle 10 but its operating surface 13 is slightly inclined to this direction, whereas the gripping surface 14 of the movable jaw 12 is parallel to that direction.

Along the upper or operating face 13 of the jaw 11 is formed a recess 15 which is preferably of a circular cross section and runs from the extreme end of the jaw some distance into the heavier part thereof. Guiding shoulders 16 are also formed along the recess which are intended to engage with corresponding projections 17 on the under side of a sliding jaw piece 18. This jaw piece, which on its upper surface is provided with the usual teeth or serrations 19, has a central pin 20 with a spherical head 21 intended to run in the recess 15 in the lower jaw 11. The ripping surface F with the bottom or guiding surface of the sliding jaw piece 18. 1

Behind the head 21 is inserted a compression spring 22 in the recess 15 and a stop pin runs across said' recess in the jaw 11. It will now be seen that spring 22 exerts a pressure against the head 21 so as to keep the aw piece 18 normally pressed against the stop 23 and at the outer end of the aw 11.

The movable jaw 12 is L-shaped and its longer shank 25 is provided with threads 26 and fits in a transverse seat 27 running across the handle 10. Near its middle, this seat .27 ,is furnished with an enlargement or recess 28, which is intended to receive a nut 29 provided with threads corresponding to those on the shank 25. The cylindrical Surface of this nut 29 is preferably knurled or grooved so as to provide a good grip for the fingers and it will be evident that by turning nut 29 in its recess 28, the movable jaw 12 will be advanced or retracted in its seat, so that the opening between the jaws 14 and 18 will be increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of the movement. The upper part of the movable jaw 12 is preferably formed with a web 30 to strengthen it, and its threaded shank 25 has two flat sides engagng in the seat 27 to prevent it from turn-- mg.

When applying the wrench to a pipe, the gap of the jaws is first set by means of nut 29 approximately to the diameter of the pipe. When the tool is pressed against the pipe, one of the jaws engaging on each side thereof, and the handle turned in the direction of the arrow X in Figure 3, it will readily be seen, that the pressure against the gripping surface of the upper jaw 1-1 acts outwardly thereof and parallel to the surface of the teeth,'while the pressure acts inwardly along the surface of the lower gripping jaw'18. As a consequence the sliding jaw piece 18 tends to move inward and compress the spring 22, and thereby narrowing the grip or gap and increasing the pressure on the pipe. With an ordinary pipe wrench, having fixed grippin surfaces, no such increase in pressure wi occur. This tightening of the jaws around the pipe during the application of the tool,

is one of the great advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new isi 1. In a wrench having a handle and a pair of gripping jaws extending approximately in longitudinal direction of said handle and with their gripping faces at a slight inclination to each other; one of said jaws being rigidl connected with said handle and the other aw having transverse adjustment therewith, an element mounted to slide upon one of said jaws in parallel direction with the gripping side thereof and rovided with a gripping surface, a cylindrical recess provided in said last named jaw, a compression spring lodged in said recess, a head on said element fitting said recess and abutting against said spring.

a cylindrical re ess provided in said fixed jaw and a sprn in said cylindrical recess abutting agalnst said head and tending to move said gripping member, in a direction to release the hold.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PAUL G. GREEN. 1,. 8.] 

